Tunnel driving apparatus

ABSTRACT

A tunnel driving apparatus with a cylindrical shield in which is mounted a cutting head which serves to detach material from a working face to effect driving of the tunnel. The cutting head is driven by a shaft which extends through a thrust ring to which a circular array of hydraulic rams concentric with the axis of the shield is connected. This thrust ring, which supports the cutting head, is connected through universal joint assemblies to guide members which slidably locate in guideways extending longitudinally of the shield.

United States Patent Follert et a1.

[ Jan. 21, 1975 TUNNEL DRIVING APPARATUS Inventors: Hans Gunter Follert, Dortmund;

Albert Beyer, Werne; Alfons Robatzek; Eberhard Unger, both of Altlunen, all of Germany Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westfalia, Westfalia, Germany Filed: July 10, 1973 Appl. No.: 377,986

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data July 15, 1972 Germany 2234965 Dec. 20, 1972 Germany 2262388 US. Cl. 299/33, 175/73- Int. Cl E01g 3/04 Field of Search 299/31-33;

' which is mounted a cutting head which serves to de-' [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,561,223 2/1971 Tabor 61/85 3,598,445 8/1971 Winberg 299/31 Primary ExaminerErnest R. Purser Attorney, Agent, or FirmMarkva & Smith [57] ABSTRACT A tunnel driving apparatus with a cylindrical shield in tach material from a working face to effect driving of the tunnel. The cutting head is driven by a shaft which extends through a thrust ring to which a circular'array of hydraulic rams concentric with the axis of the shield is connected. This thrust ring, which supports the cutting head, is connected through universal joint assemblies to guide members which slidably locate in guideways extending longitudinally of the shield.

15 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEU JANZI I975 SHEET 2 OF 2 TUNNEL DRIVING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a tunnel driving apparatus or machine.

A tunnel driving apparatus is known, particularly for driving tunnels in loose materials,.in which a hollow shield supporting the wall of the tunnel has a cutting head mounted thereon. This cutting head serves to detach material from a working face in front of the shield.

It is generally desirable to mount the cutting head so that it can be displaced longitudinally of the shield, i.e., in the driving direction, and in addition so that the head can be tilted transversely of the longitudinal axis of the shield. This enables the position of the head to be controlled to cope with various types of material encountered at the face as well as to effect driving of the tunnel along a curved path.

Hitherto the mounting of the cutting head has not been wholly satisfactory from various viewpoints and a general object of this invention is to provide an improved construction for the apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a tunnel driving apparatus comprising a cylindrical shield, a cutting head, means for supporting the cutting head at least partly within the shield, means for guiding the supporting means for movement along the shield and for permitting positional angular displacement of the supporting means and the cutting head in vertical and horizontal senses and means for moving the supporting means and the cutting head longitudinally of the shield and for effecting said angular displacement.

The supporting means may conveniently take the form off a thrust ring through which extends a drive shaft for driving the cutting head. The guiding means is preferably constructed by guideways or tracks extending longitudinally of the shield and attached to the inner surface thereof, with guide members, such as bushes or blocks slidably located in these guideways and coupled to the supporting means.

The means connecting or coupling each of the guide members to the supporting means is preferably adapted to enable the latter to move about two mutually perpendicular axes. The coupling means preferably takes the form of universal joint assemblies linked to brackets or arms on the supporting means. In this way the supporting means and hence the cutting head can be moved into various angular positions. It is desirable to locate these universal joint assemblies adjacent or in the guideways to ensure satisfactory control and guideance. The angular adjustability of the support means and hence of the cutting head is advantageous in enabling the efficient detachment of various materials at the working face by the cutting head in the driving of the tunnel.

An apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention enables the adjustability of the cutting head to be advanced in a simple yet reliable manner.

In one constructional embodiment the support means is formed with brackets pivotably connected with first pivot pins-extending laterally of the shield to mounting blocks, each mounting block being connected to a further pivot pin extending radially of the shield with its pivotal axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the associated first pivot pin, each further pivot pin being in turn located in one of the guide members. In this case the guide members can-be in the form of flanged bushes receiving the further pivot pins. It is desirable to provide each of these bushes with an outwardly projecting arm which slidably locates in a further guideway and serves to limit angular displacement of the bush about the longitudinal axis of the shield.

In another constructional embodiment the support means has arms with end portions received by slots in spigots and coupled thereto with pivot pins extending laterally of the shield, each spigot being rotatably received in an aperture in one of the guide members. Preferably gaps are provided. between the confronting faces of the end portion of each arm and the inside of the aperture in the associated guide member, said gaps extending laterally of the shield. In this case the pivotal movement of the support means about the axes extending laterally of the shield is limited in contrast to the pivotal movement of the support means about an axis which extends radially, and in operation vertically, of

the shield.

The means for moving and adjusting the support- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional side viewof part of a tunnel driv.-

ing machine made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional end view of part of the machine depicted in FIG. 1; the view being taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of part of a further tunnel driving machine made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional end view of part of the machine depicted in FIG. 3, the view being taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS driven. A cutting head 13 is disposed at least partly I within the shield 10. The cutting head 13 may be of known design and is in known manner equipped with cutting or boring tools which remove material from the working face. The cutting head 13 is carried by a mounting plate 14 to which is connected a tubular shaft 15 disposed centrally of the shield 10. This shaft 15 serves to drive the cutting head 13. In general, drive means is coupled to the shaft 15 so as to rotate or oscillate the latter about its longitudinal axis. In this embodiment, the drive means takes the form of a series of double-acting hydraulic piston and cylinder units 16 pivotably connected to the shaft and operable to oscillate the shaft 15 and hence the cutting head 13. The cutting head 13 with its mounting plate 14 is supported by support means in the form of a thrust ring 17 through which the shaft 15 extends. Bearings, incorporating axial stop members, are provided between the thrust ring' 17 and the shaft 15. The ring 17 is provided on its exterior periphery with two brackets 18 arranged in diametrically opposing positions and in this case disposed in a vertical plane. These brackets 18 are connected through universal joint assemblies 19 described hereinafter to guide members 20 permitting the ring 17 to be displaced axially of the shield 10. The provision of the universal joints 19 allows the ring 17 to be swivelled about mutually perpendicular axes to thereby permit the cutting head 13 to assume a variety of angular positional operating states.

Trough-shaped guideways or tracks 21 are provided on the inside of the shield 10. Theseguideways 21 extend over substantially the entire length of the shield 10 and have forward ends 22 which terminate adjacent the cutting edge 12. The guide members 20 take the form of flanged-guide bushes (FIG. 2) which are slidably received in the guideways 21. These guide bushes 20 are in turn carried by swivel pins 23 disposed radially of the ring 17. Each pin 23 is attached to a mounting block 24 having a bore 25 therein through which a further pin 26 extends. Each bracket 18 has two spaced apart walls 27 which locate the associated mounting block 24 therebetween and the pin 26 of the block 24 is mounted in these walls 27. The pins 23, 26 constitute the aforesaid universal joints 19 connecting the thrust ring 17 to the guide bushes 20. The mounting system 19, 20, 21 for ring 17 permits the cutting head 13 to be angularly adjusted in the vertical and horizontal senses. During horizontal adjustment the pin 23 may be displaced in the bores of the guide bushes 20. The bushes 20 are also provided with arms 31 which locate in grooves of further guideways 32 provided on the inside of the shield 10. The arms 31 can slide freely along their guideways 32 but prevent excessive tilting of the bushes'20 which may otherwise cause the ring 17 to become jammed.

The thrust ring 17 is coupled through joints 29, conventionally ball and socket joints, to a series of double: acting hydraulic rams 28 which are preferably arranged on a circle concentric with the shaft 15. These rams 28 bear on abutments which are merely represented diagrammatically in FIG. 1. The rams 28 are operable to advance the ring 17 and hence the cutting head 13 in the driving direction, arrow P, so that the bushes 20 slide along the guideways 21. It is also possible to retract the head 13 into the shield 10 with the aid of the rams 28. To adjust the position of the head 13 during operation the quantity of hydraulic fluid fed to the individual rams 28 can be controlled so that the thrust ring 17 assumes the desired position in relation to the joints 19. It can be appreciated that the length of the guideways 21 is greater than the maximum stroke of the rams 28.

The apparatus depicted in FIGS. 3 to 5 is constructionally similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and accordingly like reference numerals are used to denote like parts.

In the apparatus of FIGS. 3 to 5, the brackets provided at the exterior of the thrust ring 17 are replaced by analogous arms also designated 18 and again located in diametrically opposed positions. These arms 18 connect with the guide members 20 which again slidably engage in the guideways 21 extending longitudinally of the shield 10. In this construction, the guide members 20 are in the form of bodies of square cross-section (FIG. 5) shaped to fit snugly into the guideways 21. Each body 20 has a central circular aperture 35 having enlarged portions 36 at the inner face of the body adjacent the thrust ring 17. A spigot 38 is received for rotation within the aperture 35 of each body 20 and this spigot 38 has a shoulder 37 which seats on the enlarged portion 36 of the aperture 35. The spigots 38 are each provided with a slot 39 which receives a tapered end portion 40 of the associated arm 18. Pivot pins 42 extend through aligned bores in the arms 18 and the spigots 38. As shown in FIG. 5, the end portion 40 of each arm 18 has a rectangular cross-section. This end portion 40 has a dimension taken laterally of the associated guideway 21 which corresponds to that of the slot 39 and a dimension taken longitudinally of the guideway 21 which is somewhat less than that of the slot 39 to thereby produce gaps 41 between the inner faces of the slots 39 and the matching exterior of the portion 40. The spigots 38 are freely rotatable within the bodies 20 thereby enabling the thrust ring 17 to swing about a vertical-axis. The provision of the gaps 41 and the pivot pins 42 enable the ring 17 to also swing to a limited extent about a horizontal axis. As with the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rams 28 arranged in a circular array are used to advance the cutting head 13 via the ring 17 and to control the angular position of the ring 17 and hence of the cutting head 13.

We claim:

1. A tunnel driving apparatus comprising:

a. a cylindrical shield;

b. a cutting head;

c. means for supporting said cutting head;

d. means connecting said supporting means to said shield for variably positioning said cutting head at least partly within said shield,

e. said variable positioning means comprising interengaging slidable guide means and universal joint means, said guide means and joint means being arranged to permit movement of said supporting means along the shield while restraining relative rotation between the shield and the supporting means and to permit positional angular displacement of said supporting means and cutting head relative to said shield; and

f. means connected to said supporting means for moving and angularly displacing said supporting means and cutting head.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for controlling said moving means to effect said angular displacement.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supporting means is in the form of a thrust ring.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said guide means comprises a plurality of guideways extending longitudinally of the shield and guide members slidably located in the guideways.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the universal joint means comprises brackets pivotably connected with first pivot pins extending laterally of the shield to mounting blocks, each mounting block being connected to a further pivot pin extending radially of the shield with its pivotal axis substantially per- 5, pendicular to the axis of the associated first pivot pin, each further pivot pin being in turn located in one of the guide members.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the guide members comprise flanged bushes receiving the further pivot pins and each having an outwardly projecting arm which is slidably located in a further guideway and serves to limit angular displacement of the bush about the longitudinal axis of the shield.

7. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the universal joint means comprises arms with end portions received by slots in spigots and coupled thereto with pivot pins extending laterally of the shield, each spigot being rotatably received in an aperture in one of the guide members.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein gaps are provided between the confronting faces of the end portion of each arm and the inside of the aperture in the associated guide members, said gaps extending laterally of the shield.

9. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the universal joint means permits movement of the supporting means about two mutually perpendicular pivot axes in relation to the guide members, said pivot axes being directed radially and laterally of the shield.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said universal joint means is adapted to limit the pivotal movement of the supporting means about one of said two pivot axes which extends laterally of the shield.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving means comprises a series of hydraulic rams coupled to the supporting means and disposed in a circular array concentric with the axis of the shield.

12. A tunnel driving apparatus comprising:

a. a cylindrical shield;

b. a cutting head;

c. means for supporting said cutting head;

(1. means connecting said supporting means to said shield for variably positioning said cutting head at least partly within said shield,

e. said variable positioning means comprising interengaging guide means mounted on the shield for guiding movement of the supporting means and cutting head along a path parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shield, and means connecting the supporting means to said guide means to permit said supporting means and cutting head to be angularly displaced and re-positioned in relation to said guide means and shield about two mutually perpendicular planes; and

f. means for advancing the supporting means and cutting head along said path and for controlling said angular displacement.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising means for controlling said moving means to effect said angular displacement.

14. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said guide means includes guideways extending longitudinally of the shield and guide members slidably located in the guideways.

15. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said advancing and controlling means comprises a series of hydraulic rams coupled to the supporting means and. 

1. A tunnel driving apparatus comprising: a. a cylindrical shield; b. a cutting head; c. means for supporting said cutting head; d. means connecting said supporting means to said shield for variably positioning said cutting head at least partly within said shield, e. said variable positioning means comprising interengaging slidable guide means and universal joint means, said guide means and joint means being arranged to permit movement of said supporting means along the shield while restraining relative rotation between the shield and the supporting means and to permit positional angular displacement of said supporting means and cutting head relative to said shield; and f. means connected to said supporting means for moving and angularly displacing said supporting means and cutting head.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for controlling said moving means to effect said angular displacement.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supporting means is in the form of a thrust ring.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said guide means comprises a plurality of guideways extending longitudinally of the shield and guide members slidably located in the guideways.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the universal joint means comprises brackets pivotably connected with first pivot pins extending laterally of the shield to mounting blocks, each mounting block being connected to a further pivot pin extending radially of the shield with its pivotal axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the associated first pivot pin, each further pivot pin being in turn located in one of the guide members.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the guide members comprise flanged bushes receiving the further pivot pins and each having an outwardly projecting arm which is slidably located in a further guideway and serves to limit angular displacement of the bush about the longitudinal axis of the shield.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the universal joint means comprises arms with end portions received by slots in spigots and coupled thereto with pivot pins extending laterally of the shield, each spigot being rotatably received in an aperture in one of the guide members.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein gaps are provided between the confronting faces of the end portion of each arm and the inside of the aperture in the associated guide members, said gaps extending laterally of the shield.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the universal joint means permits movement of the supporting means about two mutually perpendicular pivot axes in relation to the guide members, said pivot axes being directed radially and laterally of the shield.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said universal joint means is adapted to limit the pivotal movement of the supporting means about one of said two pivot axes which extends laterally of the shield.
 11. An apparatus aCcording to claim 1, wherein the moving means comprises a series of hydraulic rams coupled to the supporting means and disposed in a circular array concentric with the axis of the shield.
 12. A tunnel driving apparatus comprising: a. a cylindrical shield; b. a cutting head; c. means for supporting said cutting head; d. means connecting said supporting means to said shield for variably positioning said cutting head at least partly within said shield, e. said variable positioning means comprising interengaging guide means mounted on the shield for guiding movement of the supporting means and cutting head along a path parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shield, and means connecting the supporting means to said guide means to permit said supporting means and cutting head to be angularly displaced and re-positioned in relation to said guide means and shield about two mutually perpendicular planes; and f. means for advancing the supporting means and cutting head along said path and for controlling said angular displacement.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising means for controlling said moving means to effect said angular displacement.
 14. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said guide means includes guideways extending longitudinally of the shield and guide members slidably located in the guideways.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said advancing and controlling means comprises a series of hydraulic rams coupled to the supporting means and disposed in a circular array concentric with the axis of the shield. 